Waistband tightening device



p 2, 1958 B. EQKASELOW 2,849,773

WAISTBAND TIGHTENING DEVICE Filed Jan. 25, 1957 INVENTOR. BRUNO E- KASELOW ATTO RN EYS United States Patent 2,849,773 WAISTBAND TIGHTENING DEVICE Bruno E. Kaselow, Maracaibo, Venezuela Application January-25, 1957, Serial No. 636,260-

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-200) This invention relates to clasp devices, and more particularly to a device for use on waistbands to tighten same.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved waistband tightening device which is simple in construction, which is easy to apply and which is comfortable to wear.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device for tightening the waistbands of garments, such as undergarments which have become too large or wherein the elastic has lost its resiliency, the device being inexpensive to manufacture, being safe to use, and causing no damage to the garment with which it is employed.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing an improved waistband tightening device according to the present invention engaged on the waistband of a pair of shorts.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the manner in which the waistband is interengaged with the prong elements of the waistband tightening device employed in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top view of the waistband tightening device of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross sectional View, similar to Figure 4, but showing a different manner of interengagement of the waistband with the prongs of the waistband tightening device of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross sectional view similar to Figures 4 and 5 and showing another variation of the manner of engaging the waistband with the waistband tightening device of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross sectional view similar to Figures 4, 5 and 6 and showing still another variation of the manner in which the waistband may be engaged with the waistband tightening device of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 through 4, 11 generally designates the tightening device. The device 11 comprises an elongated main body 12 of fiat material, such as fiat metal, said main body being integrally formed at its respective ends with a pair of depending prong elements 13 and 14 which extend at right angles to the main body 12. Designated at 15, 16, 17 and 18 are four additional prong elements which are integrally formed with the main body 12 and which depend from said main body at right angles thereto and which are spaced between the end prongs 13 and 14. The prongs 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are all substantially equal in length and are each formed with a rounded enlarged end 19. The prongs 15 and 18 are spaced equal distances inwardly from the end prongs 13 and 14, for example, are spaced inwardly from said end prongs about one-quarter of an inch. The inner prongs 15, 16, 17 and 18 are spaced apart by equal distances which are slightly 2,849,773 te .Sent- 2, 1

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greater. than the distance bfitwflfin the, outermost of said prongs, namely, the prongs 15, 18 and the end prongs 13,14. Thus, the inner prongs pmay be spaced apart by distances of of an inch, as compared with the onenarte nc spa n betweenv he p ongs an 3 nd th a enas. 1. a 1 he len -0 the pr ngs ay be approximately 1% inches, corresponding to the ap:

proximate width of the waistband 20 ofan undergarment, s chas apa r o hor s s cwni-n. Figur 1- As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the device 11rnay be used by first engaging the WaistbandbetWeen the outer prongs 13, 14' and the inner prongs, 15, 16,. 17 and, 18, and forming the waistband into' respective inner loops 21 and 22 which are engaged around the innermost prongs 16 and 17 and which are again looped around the prongs 15 and 18, as shown at 23 and 24 to define the relatively wide innermost bight portion 25. This considerably shortens the waistband and provides substantially increased tightness thereof. Alternatively, the waistband may be engaged with the outer prongs of the device, in the manner illustrated in Figure 5, wherein waistband loops 3%) and 31 are engaged around the respective prongs 15 and 18 and are looped around the outermost prongs 13 and 14 as shown at 32 and 33, defining the relatively long bight portion 34.

Figure 6 illustrates another manner of utilization of the waistband tightening device 11 wherein one end portion of the device is interengaged with the waistband 20 by opposing loop elements 40 and 41 formed in the waistband, the waistband being looped around the prong 16 to form the loop 40 and then being reversed around the prong 15 to form the loop 41. The waistband is then engaged first between the prongs 17 and 18 and then between the prongs 18 and 14 in the manner illustrated in Figure 6 so that the prongs 13 and 14 are both on the outer sides of the waistband, as in the arrangement of Figures 2 and 4.

Figure 7 illustrates a further method of use of the tightening device 11 wherein the waistband is first looped around the prong 15, as shown at 50, is then reversed around the prong 13, as shown at 51, is then looped around the prong 18, as shown at 52, and is then again reversed around the prong 17, as shown at 53. The waistband is then interengaged between the loop 52 and the end prong 14, as illustrated, so that the waistband is inward with respect to the end prong 14, as in Figures 1 and 2. The loops 51 and 52 thus define a relatively long inner bight portion 54 generally similar to but somewhat longer than the bight portion 25 of Figure 2.

Obviously, various other arrangements for looping a waistband around the prongs of the device 11 may occur to those skilled in the art.

As shown in Figure 3, the device is preferably arcuately curved in a longitudinal direction, to conform with the contour of the users body. Thus, the device 11 is preferably outwardly convex, and is also of relatively fiat rigid material, for example, of stainless steel sheet material, so that it is of substantial rigidity as well as of a non-corrosive nature.

While the device is preferably of a relatively stiif construction, it is also contemplated that the device he sufiiciently malleable so that the user may, if so desired, bend same to the arcuate shape shown in Figure 3 so as to make it more readily conform to the contour of the waistband when engaged around the users body.

While a specific embodiment of an improved waistband tightening device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A waistband tightening device comprising an elongated, relatively flat main body member, respective flat prongs rigidly secured to the ends of said main body member and extending perpendicular thereto, and a plurality of relatively flat, longitudinally spaced prongs rigidly secured to said main body member parallel to and spaced inwardly from said first-named prongs having enlarged rounded ends, and said prongs being adapted to be interengaged with the waistband of a garment to shorten said waistband.

2. A waistband tightening device comprising an elongated, relatively flat main body member, respective flat prongs rigidly secured to the ends of said main body member and extending perpendicular thereto, and four evenly spaced prongs rigidly secured to said main body member parallel to and spaced inwardly from said firstnamed prongs, said four prongs being spaced apart by greater distances than the spacing between the end prongs and the outermost of said four prongs, the prongs having enlarged rounded ends and being adapted to be interengaged with the waistband of a garment to shorten said waistband.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,267,235 Ginnel Dec. 23, 1941 2,466,083 Crosby Apr. 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 457,005 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1936 505,539 Great Britain May 12, 1939 

